A remedy against private contentions A godly and fruitful sermon on James, 4.1. &c.…A remedy against priuat contentions A godly and fruitfull sermon on Iames, 4.1. &c.…

This may be observed in Saul: when once David was in credit above him, he had few quiet days after, but was still troubling of himself and the whole land about David. The like may be seen in the Pharisees, they could not live if Christ lived: and why? Christ carried away the credit from them; and therefore they never ceased persecuting him, until they had deprived him of his very life. So the Philistines being covetous, envied Isaac, and grew so mad against him, because they saw him thrive beyond themselves, that they would hurt the whole country and themselves also rather then he should prosper too fast, and therefore they dammed up the wells that his servants had ¹digged, which in those hot countries were of exceeding great use. So Rachel being possessed with an immoderate desire of children, envied her sister Leah, because she was ²fruitful: her own barrenness did not so much discontent her, as her sisters fruitfulness: and therefore rather then Leah should go beyond her, she would have her husband to defile himself with her maid. Many such Rachels there are in the world, who are not so much discontented and grieved at their own meanness, as at others highness; at their own baseness in apparel, as at the new fashions of others, &c.

This may be obserued in Saul: when once Dauid vvas in credit aboue him, he had few quiet daies after, but vvas still troubling of himselfe and the whole land about Dauid. The like may be seene in the Pharisies, they could not liue if Christ liued: and why? Christ caried away the credit from them; and therfore they neuer ceased persecuting him, vntill they had depriued him of his very life. So the Philistims being couetous, enuied Isaac, and grew so mad against him, because they saw him thriue beyond themselues, that they vvould hurt the whole countrey and themselues also rather then he should prosper too fast, and therefore they dammed vp the wells that his seruants had ¹digged, vvhich in those hot countries vvere of exceding great vse. So Rahel being possessed vvith an immoderate desire of children, enuied her sister Leah, because shee was ²fruitfull: her owne barrennesse did not so much discontent her, as her sisters fruitfulnesse: and therfore rather then Leah should goe beyond her, she would haue her husband to defile himselfe with her maid. Many such Rahels there are in the world, who are not so much discontented and grieued at their own meanenesse, as at others highnesse; at their owne basenesse in apparell, as at the new fashions of others, &c.